Job Description

**To apply for this position, please submit a résumé and a cover letter  combined as a single PDF . **

About the ABF  

The American Bar Foundation (ABF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit research institute that expands knowledge and advances justice through rigorous empirical research on law, legal processes, and legal institutions. The ABF's primary sources of funding are an annual unrestricted grant from the American Bar Endowment (ABE) and contributions by the Fellows of the ABF – a global honorary society of attorneys, judges, faculty, and scholars. Approximately 15% of the ABF's $9 million revenue comes from a diverse portfolio of public and private grants for faculty-led research and programming. The ABF offices are located on Northwestern University's Chicago campus in Streeterville. The ABF offers a rich intellectual community for staff to interact with scholars and attend weekly research presentations. 

Position Overview  

The ABF seeks a Grants Manager to manage and grow the ABF's grants portfolio and to support the ABF's Development team with donor research and data entry. This position reports to the Director of Major Gifts and Grants and works closely with the Director of Accounting, ABF Faculty, and other members of the Development, Finance, and Operations teams. 

Key Responsibilities  

Grants Management (65%) 

• Develop and maintain internal grants management policies and procedures in collaboration with Director of Major Gifts and Grants and Finance team.
• Monitor grant compliance with contractual award terms and institutional policies and procedures. 
• Collaborate with Finance team and principal investigators (PIs) to submit timely grant applications, reports, and renewals. 
• Collaborate with Finance team to monitor research budgets, timelines, and expenditures. 
• Research and analyze public and private grant opportunities. 
• Maintain calendar of active and prospective grants and relevant documentation. 
• Draft grant activity update reports for ABF Board and Executive Committee meetings. 
• Support grant-funded workshops and events as needed. 

Major Gift Prospect Research (25%) 

• Identify individual, corporate, and foundation prospects and maintain prospect management system. 
• Design and run queries and provide report exports as requested.  
• Collaborate with Director of Major Gifts and Grants on personalized strategies to cultivate and steward potential and active donors. 

Development Data Support (10%)  

• Execute timely entry of gifts to Raiser's Edge. 
• Assist with ongoing data cleanup, including processing event RSVPs.  

Other duties not listed above may be required of this position. 

Required Qualifications  

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience. 
• 3+ years of experience in grants management. 
• Strong understanding of grant compliance and reporting requirements. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. 
• Proficiency in grant management systems and CRMs. 
• Familiarity with techniques for prospect research. 
• Outstanding project management skills, attention to detail, and time management skills. 
• Strong contributor in a team environment. 
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of donor and grantor information.
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, Outlook, SharePoint, OneDrive, PowerPoint). 
• Commitment to furthering the mission of the ABF. 
• Illinois residency and U.S. work authorization required throughout employment. Please note that the ABF does not have the institutional capacity to sponsor visas, and we are unable to advise on individual visa matters. 

Preferred Qualifications  

• Familiarity with Raiser's Edge and/or Financial Edge NXT 
• Experience with National Science Foundation (NSF) and other federal grants 
• Experience working in an academic institution or research institute 

The ABF strives to foster a community that represents many backgrounds and experiences. We encourage you to apply for this position, even if you do not meet every qualification listed. Please note that experience need not be professional in nature; unpaid or informal experience may also be relevant. We are committed to providing support and training to help our staff members grow and succeed in their roles. 

Work Structure and Environment  

This is a full-time (35 hours per week), exempt position. ABF staff work on a hybrid schedule (40% in office, 60% working remotely within the state of Illinois). Standard work hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm CT, with a one-hour lunch period. Occasional work outside of these hours is expected in connection with ABF events (e.g., Board meetings). Close mental and visual attention are required, primarily for using a computer and/or extensive reading. Out-of-state travel is not required for this position.

Compensation and Benefits   

The anticipated salary range for this position is $60,000 to $70,000. Full-time administrative staff benefits currently include: 

• 403(b) retirement plan with 5% automatic employer contribution AND 5% employer match
• 35-hour work week, plus early-dismissal Summer Fridays 
• Flexible scheduling and/or compensatory time 
• Generous paid time off (PTO): 16+ holidays, including a weeklong winter recess; 15 vacation days; 10 sick days; paid family/medical leave; other leave as needed (e.g., short-term disability) 
• Medical and dental insurance – BCBS-IL PPO or HMO 
• Vision insurance – UnitedHealthCare 
• FSA, or HSA with employer contribution 
• Transit and parking benefits, including discounted parking 
• Professional development funds 
• Employment is eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
• Life insurance 
• Employee assistance program 
• Legal assistance plan 

How to Apply  

Please submit a résumé and a cover letter combined as a single PDF . Applications submitted through other platforms will not be reviewed. No phone calls or office visits, please. Note: A pre-employment background check is required for final candidates; however, conviction of a crime does not necessarily disqualify a candidate from employment. 

The American Bar Foundation (ABF) is firmly committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified persons, including providing reasonable accommodations to qualified job applicants. All decisions regarding employment will be made without unlawful discrimination on the basis of age; ancestry; certain arrest or criminal history records; citizenship; color; disability; gender; gender identity; genetic information; housing status; marital status; military status; national origin; order of protection status; parental status; pregnancy; protected activity (e.g., reporting of prohibited discrimination or harassment); race (including traits associated with race such as hair texture or hair styles); religion; reproductive health decisions; sex; sexual orientation; source of income; status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence, gender violence, or any other crime of violence or who have family or household members who are victims of such violence; unfavorable discharge from the military; or any other status or classification protected by applicable federal, state, and/or local laws.    

Job Tags

Holiday work, Full time, Temporary work, Work experience placement, Summer work, Casual work, Local area, Remote job, Visa sponsorship, Flexible hours, Monday to Friday,

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